Hines says city in dire need of money for tearing down blighted homes

It could hardly be called a celebration, but the demolishing of a blighted property on N. 30th St., on Tuesday in the Metcalfe Park neighborhood represents the first City of Milwaukee property to be torn down under the state's Strategic Blight Elimination program.

The home, at 2866 N. 30th St., is one of 39 homes expected to be demolished under a $500,000 award from the state Department of Financial Institutions and the Department of Justice. The funds were made available from proceeds of a national mortgage settlement received by the two state agencies,.

The program is being administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, or WHEDA.

The neighborhood where the home is located is in a distressed area. Just to the south of the blighted home was another boarded-up home. To the north, at the corner of N. 30th and W. Locust Sts,., another home looked to be a candidate for demolition.

While city officials are glad to have the money to tear down an estimated 39 homes, the problem is extensive city wide. An estimated 500 homes are already on a "must-raze" list, and the cost to take down all of the homes that should be removed has been estimated at $7.5 million.

City officials estimate they will add at least 300 buildings a year to the "must-raze" list for years to come. Where the city will find that money is not yet known, especially with federal funds drying up early next year.

"We do recognize that while we are appreciative of the resources, we are in dire need of additional dollars," Hines said.

The city expects to spend $2.5 million this year to remove 161 buildings.